Project: Stock Front Bumper with Integrated Winch

[86tuning]

Question for you fellas:

Anybody running an inline fuse on your positive wire to the battery terminal? I have this paranoia that there is gonna be something catastrophic that may happen and have been contemplating putting an inline ANL 200 AMP fuse on the hot side. Is this somethign the solenoid should take care of?

Do NOT do this. Most winches draw 3-400A at stall.

If you're paranoid, relocate the solenoid box up and behind the battery. Extend the 3 wires runnning to the winch. Those 3 wires only have power when the solenoids/contactors are engaged (ie, winch is in use) the rest of the time there is no power there.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Question for you fellas:

Anybody running an inline fuse on your positive wire to the battery terminal? I have this paranoia that there is gonna be something catastrophic that may happen and have been contemplating putting an inline ANL 200 AMP fuse on the hot side. Is this somethign the solenoid should take care of?

A 200Amp fuse won't cut it for a winch, but I understand your concern on catastrophic failure

Back when I hit a freezer on the highway a few months ago, the first thought that crossed my mind was the possibility of a mangled winch power cable about to short out on the chassis somewhere

When my new winch bumper arrives, I'll be installing another HD solenoid inline with the power cable

 

[CruiseOrlando]

Interesting. My Harbor Freight Bandland winch came with one. It's a little odd looking (maybe I'm just not used to looking at them) and as it stands now I'm not happy with how it's mounted (I need to find a box to put it in to isolate and protect), but it works for now.

See part #31 in the manual if you're interested.

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/68000-68999/68143.pdf

 

[duggy]

Do NOT do this. Most winches draw 3-400A at stall.

If you're paranoid, relocate the solenoid box up and behind the battery. Extend the 3 wires runnning to the winch. Those 3 wires only have power when the solenoids/contactors are engaged (ie, winch is in use) the rest of the time there is no power there.

Great information. My battery had a short and would not hold a charge since I do not drive the truck much and for some reason it crossed in my head that the winch was causing a slow power drain. I've always been paranoid about electronics and wiring only because tracing burnt wires are not something I consider a good pastime.